Peanut Butter Pumpkin Dog Cookies

Easy Recipe for a Healthy, Savory Treat

The smell of fall is in the air and even our dogs can get a hankering for seasonal goodies.

Looking for a way to treat your dog to a healthy pumpkin-infused cookie? Try this easy peanut butter pumpkin cookie recipe from AllRecipes.com. We put the recipe to the test in our kitchen and got two paws up from our taste testers.

Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Cookie Recipe

Makes 25 to 50 individual, bite-size treats, depending on the size of your cookie. Our test kitchen produced 48 cookies of variable size.

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour*
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter**
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Decorative cookie cutters optional

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Prepare two baking pans, using either a silpat or baking spray. A silpat guarantees even baking through the bottom of your cookies.

Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add water as needed to help make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff.

Sprinkle some of the wheat flour on a pastry board or stone counter top to prevent your dough from sticking to the surface. Using your hands, roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick log.

Using a pastry or butter knife, cut into the dough into 1/2-inch pieces.

If you're feeling crafty and want to give these cookies as a gift, or you think your dog will appreciate the extra creative effort, use decorative cookie cutters, such as a dog bone shape or a pumpkin shape.

You can find decorative cookie cutters at specialty kitchen shops such as Sur la Table or Williams-Sonoma or look at Target, Walmart, Hobby Lobby or Michael's. A broad variety may also be found online.

Bake in preheated oven until hard, about 40 minutes. Check the density of the cookies; they should not have any give in the center when you push on them with a finger. Dog cookies need to be hard and crunchy instead of soft, otherwise they are chewy and can become stuck in your dog's teeth. If necessary, bake for additional time in three minute increments.

Nutritional Information

Using wheat flour, 48 dog cookies yields approximately the following nutritional facts: 31 calories per serving; 0.6 grams of fat; 0.2 grams saturated fat; 7 mg cholesterol; 30 mg sodium; 0.6 grams carbs; 0.3 grams fiber; 0.2 grams sugar; 1.1 grams protein.

If you are substituting 1 1/4 cup coconut flour, 48 dog cookies yields approximately the following nutritional facts: 9 calories per serving; 0.6 grams of fat; 0.1 grams saturated fat; 7 mg cholesterol; 29 mg sodium; 5.3 grams carbs; 0.3 grams fiber; 0.2 grams sugar; 0.5 grams protein.

*Substitutions for Wheat Flour

If you'd like to use a different flour other than wheat, consider the following:

Coconut flour: You cannot substitute coconut flour for wheat flour at a 1:1 ratio. They are not equivalent. Coconut flour is very absorbent and very little is needed to successfully produce a recipe. In baked goods, you generally want to substitute 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup coconut flour for 1 cup grain-based flour. You will also need to increase the number of eggs. In general for every one cup of coconut flour you use, you will need to use six beaten eggs in your recipe in addition to approximately one cup liquid such as coconut milk.

Rice flour: It is recommended that you substitute 7/8 cup of rice flour for one cup of wheat flour. However, rice flour tends to have a grainy texture. A smoother texture can be obtained by mixing the rice flour with the liquid called for in the recipe, bringing the mixture to a boil and cooling it before adding to other ingredients. In this particular recipe, however, there isn't any liquid required. Since these are dog cookies, the texture may not be an issue. Coarse cookies are best for dogs' teeth to break down tartar.

Oat flour: One cup of wheat flour equals 3/4 cup oat flour. Oat flour can be hard to find, so considering doing it yourself: you can make your own oat flour by grinding or pureeing rolled oats. Rule of thumb: 1 1/4 cups of rolled oats is equivalent to 1 cup of oat flour. It is important to note that oat flour tends to make a baked goods more moist than wheat flour.

Are Peanuts Safe for Dogs?

Peanuts are safe for dogs to consume. Of course, it is recommended that you feed your dog peanut butter in moderation as to not increase the chances of giving your pet an upset stomach. Nuts to avoid feeding your dog include almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts. For more information on toxic nuts, check out our in-depth article.

**Xylitol Warning!

Before mixing the peanut butter into the batter, make sure to read the ingredients label on the peanut butter jar. Many nut butters are now using xylitol as a sugar substitute. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs; a very small amount could send your dog into hypoglycemia and liver failure. Immediate veterinary care is recommended. To learn more about xylitol poisoning, read our in-depth article. 

The Healthy Benefits of Canned Pumpkin for Pets

Is it true that canned pumpkin is a remedy for an upset stomach, promotes a shiny coat and improves a pet’s immune system?

Know someone with pets?

Help pets stay safe this season by sending friends our latest seasonal e-card. For every friend who completes an application, we'll send you a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card!*